Publix Super Markets, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Publix Super Markets, Inc. 401(k) Smart Plan
Lakeland, FLRetail Trade203,111 active participantsPlan year 2024
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$246Employer $ per active participant
$1,713Employee $ saved per active participant
0.03%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$8.1BNet plan assets, end of year
$59,365Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity5.3 / 5011th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost20.2 / 2581th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving8.3 / 1555th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features3 / 10Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-3 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score34 / 100 · Grade D
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 10,000+ active participants (124 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 11th |
| Lower admin cost | 81th |
| Employee saving | 55th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 32% |
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Red flags from the filing
Corrective distributions: the plan refunded $3,729,419 in contributions, which usually means it failed annual nondiscrimination testing.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Publix Super Markets put in about $246 per active participant, below the typical peer ($689). Any match is still an instant return, so contribute enough to get all of it.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $49,898,186 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $347,882,373 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | – |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $2,479,303 |
| Contract administrator fees | $2,479,303 |
| Benefits paid out | $521,548,223 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $6.6B / $8.1B |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 197,102 / 209,120 |
| Participants with account balances | 135,699 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Not reported |
| Auditor | KPMG, LLP |
| Employer stock held by plan | $5,628,950,800 |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Voya Institutional Plan Services | $2,479,303 reported compensation |
| State Street Global Advisors Trust | $436,346 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251003152925NAL0001566353001, received 2025-10-03, EIN 59-0324412, plan #004, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.